Winning start for Indian hockey women

Seoul: The Indian eves started their tour with a morale-boosting 1-0 win over the hosts in the first hockey match of the five-match series at the Jinchun National Athletic Centre on Monday.

India started the match on a positive note as they focused on stringing together some passes, which saw them keep possession in the opposition's half in the opening few minutes of the first quarter.

It was in the fifth minute that the visitors attacked the South Korean defense and found a way past their goalkeeper Mijin Han as India's Lalremsiami scored the opening goal of the match to give her side a 1-0 lead.

The Indian team looked in good shape as they were making forays into the opposition`s half regularly and were defending well as a unit, which meant that they kept their 1-0 lead intact at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, India was rewarded with a penalty corner in the 18th minute, but the South Koreans guarded their goal well as the shot from the Indians was saved by Mijin Han.

Three minutes later, another penalty corner was saved by the hosts as India looked to take advantage of their opportunities but the South Korea goalkeeper made another fantastic save to keep her team in the match.

It was South Korea`s turn to take the Penalty Corner in the 23rd minute but they could not be efficient with their finishing as Indian goalkeeper Swati made the save to keep her team`s lead intact.